Black light assemblies principally for swimming pools and spas

ABSTRACT

Lighting assemblies principally for swimming pools and spas may produce ultraviolet (UV) radiation (i.e. black light). They also may supply visible light if desired. The assemblies may be submerged within pools or spas or located externally thereof, and the light sources may be controlled either collectively or individually.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/680,360, filed Jun. 4, 2018, and havingthe same title as appears above, the entire contents of whichapplication are hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to lighting assemblies and associated methods andmore particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to luminairesconfigured to provide (at least) black light in order to illuminateregions in or near water-containing vessels such as swimming pools andspas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous lighting devices exist for swimming pools and spas. U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2015/0285475 of Perkins addresses varioussuch devices, including both lights fitted into niches affixed to poolsurfaces and a nicheless light that “can be removably fastened to ahorizontal surface, such as a pool deck, or a vertical surface, like awall of a pool, via fasteners.” See Perkins, p. 2, ¶0020. According tothe Perkins application, the light may include a light-emitting diode(LED). See id., ¶0023.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0338072 of Garcia, et al.,discloses another swimming pool lighting assembly. The lighting assemblyincludes “a self-adhering base mountable to a side wall of a pool.” SeeGarcia, p. 1, ¶0013 (numeral omitted). The assembly further is describedas a “waterproof LED pool accent light,” with translucent,interchangeable lenses used to change the color of the projected light.See id.

Detailed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0362166 ofHanke, et al., is another lighting system for installation in poolwalls. See Hanke, p. 1, ¶0001. Modules of the system may include red,green, and blue (RGB) LEDs. See id., p. 2, ¶¶0016-0027. The systemadditionally includes an electronic controller capable of communicatingwith the modules so as to control their actions. See id., ¶¶0029-0035.U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,760 to Archer, et al., details furtherelectronically-controllable LED-based pool lighting.

A black light produces, principally, ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Unlikevisible light, UV radiation typically is not visible to the human eye.However, phosphors may emit visible light in response to UV radiation,furnishing an observable reaction to the radiation. In many casesphosphor-coated objects may appear to “glow in the dark,” or otherwiseappear in ghostly manner, when subjected to UV radiation.

Absent from disclosures of these patent applications is any reference toproviding black lighting for pools, either instead of or in addition toproviding conventional visible-spectrum lighting. Equally absent fromthese disclosures is any contemplation of using black light LEDs toprovide such black lighting for pools and spas. Yet doing so couldenhance usefulness of these vessels, especially for fun and recreationalpurposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention thus seeks to satisfy this desire by supplyinginnovative lighting assemblies and associated methods of their use.Luminaires may include black lights configured to produce UV radiation.If desired, they also may include sources of visible light.

Any suitable sources may be employed to provide lighting consistent withthe present invention. Advantageously, though, LEDs may be utilized tosupply both UV and visible light. A controller may control the LEDselectronically and either collectively or individually as appropriate ordesired. Accordingly, the lighting assemblies may furnish numerouscolors and hues and excite phosphors or other materials capable ofresponding to UV light.

The light emitters may be mounted suitably on one or more PCBs of alighting assembly. Assemblies, furthermore, may be submerged within aswimming pool or spa. Alternatively or additionally, lighting assembliesmay be positioned external to pools or spas. In either circumstance,they may illuminate water of the pools or spas, equipment (includingwater features) of the pools or spas, areas adjacent the pools or spas,or otherwise as desired.

It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention toprovide lighting assemblies for water-containing vessels such asswimming pools and spas.

It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention toprovide lighting assemblies including at least one source emitting UVradiation.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention toprovide lighting assemblies comprising sources of both visible light andUV radiation.

It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present inventionto provide lighting assemblies including one or more PCBs including bothUV and RGB LEDs.

It is, moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the presentinvention to provide lighting assemblies including one or more PCBsincluding UV, RGB, and white LEDs.

It is an additional optional, non-exclusive object of the presentinvention to provide lighting assemblies containing multipleindividually-controllable LEDs.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will beapparent to those skilled in the relevant field with reference to theremaining text and the drawings of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematicized view of a first printed circuit board (PCB)containing black light and RGB LEDs.

FIG. 2 is a schematicized view of a second PCB containing black light,RGB, and white LEDs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 is an exemplary PCB 10 that may formpart of a lighting assembly (or luminaire) of the present invention.Shown as present on PCB 10 are four LEDs 14A-D, with LEDs 14A-Crespectively providing red, green, and blue (i.e. RGB) light in thevisible spectrum. LED 14D, by contrast, is a black light, producingpredominantly UV radiation. In at least some versions of the inventionLED 14D produces black light of wavelength between 320-400 nm, with onepresently preferred LED 14D producing black light having averagewavelength of approximately 385 nm. Another alternate LED 14D mayproduce black light at average wavelength of approximately 365 nm.

Lighting assemblies of the invention may be configured and structured inany suitable manner, including (but not limited to) the configurationsand structures disclosed in the Perkins, Garcia, and Hanke applicationsand the Archer patent, as examples. LEDs 14A-D likewise may becontrollable electronically as appropriate or desired. In some versionsof the invention, LEDs 14A-D may be powered and controlled collectivelyor independently in order to produce a wide variety of colors and huesas well as excite objects capable of responding to the UV light suppliedby LED 14D. The lighting assemblies further may be located underwaterwithin a pool or spa (whether or not in a niche) or external to the poolor spa.

FIG. 2 depicts another exemplary PCB 10′ capable of inclusion in alighting assembly consistent with the present invention. As with PCB 10,PCB 10′ may comprise red (14A′), green (14B′), blue (14C′), and UV(14D′) LEDs. PCB 10′ additionally may include a white LED 14E, furtherenhancing the controllable color schemes available to an owner or userof a pool. Again, each of LEDs 14A′-E may be powered and controlledcollectively or independently.

Lighting assemblies thus may provide not only standard (RGB) lightingbut also black lighting for swimming pools and spas. Accordingly, theassemblies may be used conventionally (by illuminating combinations ofthe RGB LEDs 14A-C or 14A′-C′ and 14E) when desired. They also may beused unconventionally, by illuminating UV LEDs 14D or 14D′ either aloneor together with any of other LEDs.

Exemplary concepts or combinations of features of the invention mayinclude:

-   -   A. A lighting assembly for a pool or spa containing at least one        light source emitting UV radiation.    -   B. A lighting assembly for a pool or spa containing LEDs        configured to emit either or both of visible light and UV        radiation.    -   C. A method of illuminating a pool or spa comprising causing a        lighting assembly to emit UV radiation.    -   D. A method of illuminating a pool or spa comprising causing one        or more LEDs of a lighting assembly to emit either or both of        visible light and UV radiation.

These examples are not intended to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, orrestrictive in any way, and the invention is not limited to theseexample embodiments but rather encompasses all possible modificationsand variations within the scope of any claims ultimately drafted andissued in connection with the invention (and their equivalents). Foravoidance of doubt, any combination of features not physicallyimpossible or expressly identified as non-combinable herein may bewithin the scope of the invention.

The entire contents of the Perkins, Garcia, and Hanke applications andthe Archer patent are incorporated herein by this reference. Further,although applicant has described lighting assemblies and techniques foruse with swimming pools, persons skilled in the relevant field willrecognize that the present invention may be employed in connection withother objects and in other manners. Finally, references to “pools” and“swimming pools” herein may also refer to spas or other water containingvessels used for recreation or therapy and for which lighting is neededor desired.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of illuminating a swimming pool or spacomprising causing a lighting assembly to emit UV radiation.
 2. A methodaccording to claim 1 further comprising causing the lighting assembly toemit visible light.
 3. A method according to claim 2 further comprisingseparately controlling emission sources of the UV radiation and thevisible light.
 4. A method according to claim 3 further comprisinglocating the lighting assembly within water of the swimming pool or spa.5. A method according to claim 4 in which the act of causing thelighting assembly to emit visible light comprises supplying electricalpower to at least one of a red LED, a green LED, a blue LED, or a whiteLED.
 6. A method according to claim 5 in which the act of causing thelighting assembly to emit visible light comprises causing the lightingassembly to emit visible light simultaneously with the emission of UVradiation.
 7. A swimming pool or spa lighting assembly comprising atleast one first light source emitting UV radiation.
 8. A swimming poolor spa lighting assembly according to claim 7 further comprising atleast one second light source emitting visible light.
 9. A swimming poolor spa lighting assembly according to claim 8 in which the at least onefirst light source and the at least one second light source compriseLEDs.
 10. A swimming pool or spa lighting assembly according to claim 9in which the LEDs are mounted on a PCB.
 11. A swimming pool or spalighting assembly according to claim 10 in which the at least one firstlight source is controlled independently of the at least one secondlight source.
 12. A swimming pool or spa lighting assembly according toclaim 11 submerged within water of the swimming pool or spa.
 13. Aswimming pool or spa lighting assembly comprising a black light emittingradiation at wavelength between 320-400 nm.
 14. A swimming pool or spalighting assembly according to claim 13 submerged within water of theswimming pool or spa.
 15. A swimming pool or spa lighting assemblyaccording to claim 13 in which the black light emits radiation havingaverage wavelength of approximately 385 nm or 365 nm.